Hemicellulase activity of antarctic microfungi

• Published in: Journal of Applied Microbiology
• Main Authors: Bradner, J. R., Sidhu, R. K., Gillings, M., Nevalainen, K. M H
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1999
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/dd6a35fd-2271-4db4-a441-f775fcf9e453; https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00827.x; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032882583&partnerID=8YFLogxK

The mannanase (endo-β-1,4-mannanase; E.C. 3.2.1.78) and xylanase (endo-β-1,4-xylanase; E.C. 3.2.1.8) activity of five microfungal isolates from Antarctica were characterized at different temperatures and pH. In general, the hemicellulase activity of the antarctic strains occurred at least 10 °C and as much as 30 °C lower than that of a mesophilic reference strain. At 0 °C, two strains, a Phoma and a Penicillium, produced in excess of 40% of their measured maximum activity of mannanase. All strains had maximum hemicellulase activity in the range pH 4- 5, with Penicillium, Phoma and Alternaria strains exhibiting high (in excess of 80% of maximum) mannanase activity at pH 10. Three of the antarctic isolates exhibited high levels of xylanase activity over a pH range of 3-11.